Caza, Shawn M. Under the Red Banner

A History of the Soviet 43rd Guards Tank Brigade 1940-1945

Based on formerly secret Soviet military recordssupplemented by comprehensive analyses, photographs, and over 100 official maps and sketches*Under the Red Banner* traces the day-to-day operational history of a Soviet armored unit throughout the entire Second World War. The unitwhich was renamed several times over the course of the conflict (9th Tank Division, 104th Tank Division, 145th Tank Brigade, and 43rd Guards Tank Brigade)fought in both well-known battles (Smolensk, Moscow, Operation Bagration, and East Prussia) and some of the "forgotten battles" of the Eastern Front (Operation Mars, Orsha, and Vitebsk). *Under the Red Banner* offers unique insights into the activities of an armored unit providing infantry support, detailing the actual experiences of the troopsfrom training and combat preparation to the fighting itself. Summaries and tables provide extensive information regarding the unit's formal and actual organizational structure, its equipment strength, as well as its casualty figures and repair rates. In many instances, these details diverge significantly from the narrative presented by previous historical accounts. *Under the Red Banner* demonstrates how much closer we can now come to a comprehensive understanding of events on the Eastern Front thanks to the analysis of Soviet military records; furthermore, the work shows that it is now possible to reconstruct every single step and action of a unit without gapseven within the context of a "forgotten battle." The book is aimed equally at historians and anyone with an interest in the history of armored warfareincluding wargamers. Many of the operations described are presented in such a level of detail that they can be reenacted using popular computer or tabletop games.